victoria University (VU) has unveiled a groundbreaking report addressing the pervasive issue of racism and the reasons why many victims remain silent. The report, titled “Understanding Reporting Barriers and Support Needs for Those Experiencing Racism in Victoria,” aims to shed light on the damaging effects of racism and proposes measures to enhance anti-racism support across the state.
The research, spearheaded by VU’s Associate Professor Mario Peucker in collaboration with the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV) and the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV), and funded by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), was launched today at Fitzroy Town Hall.
The findings paint a stark picture of the reality faced by many in Victoria. According to the report:
- 76% of survey respondents have experienced racism in Australia, or know someone who has. Two-thirds of these incidents occurred within the last 12 months, predominantly in employment (57%), shopping centres (50%), public transport (38%), other public places (37%), and online (35%).
- Despite the prevalence of racism, less than 16% of those affected have reported incidents to any organisation or community group. When reports are made, they are typically directed to the organisation where the incident occurred or to Victoria Police.
- The report identifies several interconnected reasons for the low reporting rates, including a sense of hopelessness (91%), the perceived difficulty of reporting (83%), concerns about not being taken seriously (83%), fears of negative consequences (76%), and a lack of awareness on where to report (75%). Additionally, past negative experiences with reporting deter future attempts.
- The study is based on a community survey of 703 Victorians from culturally and racially marginalised communities, supplemented by 27 focus groups. This approach has provided deep insights into community perspectives on racism, reporting barriers, and support needs.
One notable testimony comes from a woman of Somali background, who emphasised the necessity for community-led advocacy and assistance: “As a community, we need a platform where people can come to and report, and we can then pass this on to the human rights commission. People are scared. But we should say, ‘listen, you should not be scared, go to someone in the community who can help you.’ They can then send the report to the commission.”
Associate Professor Peucker underscored the importance of listening to these community voices: “Racism can only be addressed by listening to the communities affected by systematic and everyday discrimination and vilification. Our report captures the experiences of hundreds of people who continue to be negatively impacted by racism while offering proactive ways to encourage people to speak out and ultimately improve anti-racism support.”
ECCV Chairperson, Mr Eddie Micallef, highlighted the crucial role of diverse migrant and refugee communities in shaping effective anti-racism policies: “ECCV is proud to partner with Victoria University and the Islamic Council of Victoria on this new report centring the experiences and insights of people impacted by racism. By better understanding what our migrant and refugee communities need, we can empower them to call out racism, report it, and take the steps to seek support.”
The report outlines several key measures to improve reporting pathways and support services, including:
- Regular training and workshops in schools, employment, and beyond to strengthen racial literacy.
- Greater community engagement to build awareness of legal anti-racism rights and existing support services through community-led forums and campaigns.
- Strengthening legal protections and the enforcement of existing frameworks to increase accountability for racist behaviour.
This comprehensive approach aims to not only highlight the challenges faced by victims of racism but also provide a roadmap for creating a more supportive and responsive environment in Victoria. The report is a call to action for policymakers, organisations, and communities to work together in fostering a more inclusive and equitable society.
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